Transcript Chapter 5: System Hardware FAQ

System Software
Chapter 5
The Director
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System Software
• How do I keep my system software
current?
– All system software sites provide updates for
their systems to fix faults and provide
additional utility
– Microsoft has implemented automatic update
requests, if you are a registered Windows user,
for example
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Applications Software
• Are additional features
available for my applications
software?
– Yes, support sites provide
templates and additional
functionality, usually for free
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Determine Needs Before Buying
• What do you do?
– Read reviews on line
and in magazines
– The system of best
value is usually found
three notches below
the fastest and newest
system
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System Software Components
• Generally, buying
higher quality
components slows
the necessity to
upgrade your
system sooner
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Basics
• Follow the wizards for installation
• Before you attempt to install your
connections to the Internet, it is
best to write down Internet Service
Providers’ connection telephone
numbers, Internet addresses, user
name, and password
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OS
• Many magazines
publish optimization
techniques that are
helpful, if authorized
by the computer’s
owner
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Managing Programs and Data
• Keep your files in a
separate and organized
area
• Backup, backup,
backup
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Memory Management
• Generally speaking, the
more memory that you can
afford within reason, the
longer a system runs well
and keeps up with
increasing multitask loads
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Drivers
• On a regular basis, check the manufacturer's
site for updated drivers
• Video/monitor cards have a reputation of
coming to market first, then optimizing
driver code later
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Utilities Programs
• CNet, PCWorld, and ZDnet
publish lists of utilities they
find important and time savers
• Examine these according to
your needs
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Utilities
• Must have these:
– backup
• system, registry, email, files
– data recovery
– virus protection
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Frag and Defrag
• Defrag often
• If a system fails to defrag, use the scan disk
utility to fix faulty file allocation
• If defrag fails to complete in a reasonable
time, there may be a memory-resident
program running. Use the Close Program
window to close all programs but Explorer,
then rerun Defrag
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Windows NT
• Soon to be replaced by multiple
versions of Windows 2000 from
enterprise to single user
• A sound and solid operating system
• A large operating system
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Web
• Java used in an ecommerce
situation today is
powerful
• In five years, Java
and e-commerce
will just be called
commerce
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Some Generalities
• UNIX and Windows NT on high-end
workstations
• Mac still used for intensive graphics
• While Linux will not run Microsoft Office,
such programs as ApplixWare provides
filters to Office 2000 files, so the
incapability issue is disappearing
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